My designing friend Zang Toi has two white-gold paintings of Marie Antoinette that were love at first sight for me. You know how I feel about queens!
Zang's apartment, shot by Elle Decor.
I once bid on a small, pink version of Marie in an auction but lost. I was very upset.
WendyB, MrB and Zang's Marie.
When Zang finally introduced me to the gorgeous artist, Natasha Zupan, I told her I had to have my own Marie Antoinette painting. But after we hung out and she saw me wearing my Boleyn necklace, she suggested painting me as another beheaded queen — Anne Boleyn. Not post-mortem Anne Boleyn, my choice for Halloween 2008 …
Off with my head!
… but the famous Anne Boleyn portrait that I pored over as a little girl, vowing to someday have a big “B” pendant just like Anne.
I was fascinated by this image as a child.
My policy is that when an artist says, “I want to do something just for you” it’s good to follow her muse. Especially when we like the same things, as I could tell from these other examples of Natasha’s work.
Painting by Natasha Zupan.
Painting by Natasha Zupan.
Pillow by Natasha Zupan.
Eventually, we followed Natasha’s muse all the way to Mallorca, where she lives. We’d never been there and were planning a vacation, so why not visit Natasha and my portrait? We arrived last week. Natasha was the hostess with the mostest and showed us all around the island. I adored her Moorish house.
The local church, dressed up for a saint's day.
The neighbors' houses.
Natasha's covetable patio.
Finally, it was time for the big unveiling.
It's Wendy Boleyn!
It totally looks like me, right? Natasha updated Anne’s 16th-century dress to something that would be more flattering for me. I liked that choice because, as I’ve found with my jewelry, exact reproductions of old-timey fashions aren’t always very pretty. No red lipstick because it took away from the 16th-century vibe. Each pearl was painted with such care, and real gold leaf was used for my necklace.
The gold leaf and copy of the Boleyn portrait, on Natasha's table.
The red text with our names was inspired by the text in the original Boleyn portrait (next to Anne’s hat). We had requested it, but after our viewing, MrB suggested that Natasha paint that out so the portrait would be more mysterious. Instead, he wants to put a little gold plate at the bottom of the frame with my name in it, museum-style.
MrB makes an artistic decision.
Natasha has a beautiful, bright, airy studio. I loved seeing her art, workspace and inspirations, so I took pictures of every inch.
Click Natasha for more studio photos
Natasha is having some big gallery shows in London and San Diego, Calif., this fall. I’ll let you know when those open and, if you live nearby, you can see her work in person. In the meantime, here’s one more photo of the artist and her happy customer.
Natasha, WendyB and WendyB.
Now I just need to get myself one of those Dorian Gray deals and I’ll be all set!
HOW COOL!!!!!!
Oh my goodness.. kind of just about the coolest post EVER!
That is a really awesome painting of you, madame ! And I definitely love Natasha’s mantra; who wouldn’t want champagne, diamonds and cash?
And I really love the big B necklace you wore when you were the beheaded Boleyn, too… nice. 🙂
Fabulous painting! You are immortal!
Oh, and one more thing… I like diamonds, champagne and cash.
Looks like a past-life version of you!
I agree with the other commenters–this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen on your blog! Have you and MrB decided where to hang your Tudor portrait yet? And whaddya mean you need one of those Dorian Gray deals? With your youthful good looks, I kind of thought you already had one. 😉
Flattery will get you far! Keep it up 😉
that is seriously amazing. She did a beautiful job!
That is PHENOMENAL! I love it. And what a great way to be immortalized miss B. Realize also that hundreds of years from now some school kid might see that portrait and think YOU were a queen of the “olden days”. Which naturally, we already know… 🙂
oh my! that’s so great… i remember when you were first talking about commisioning this painting! it looks fantastic, and so you! paul is right to suggest painting out the names or perhaps cutting off the top of the painting to crop it closer the hat (like it is in the original) but other than than that, it’s AMAZING!
How COOOOOOL!!!!! Congrats on the portrait 🙂 And I like that pink pillow too.
Thats amazing, I love Anne Boleyn and have always been fascinated by her story. You make a great one 🙂
I need a Dorian Gray too, now do not want anymore ageing ..Thanks for your birthday wishes xx
Incredible! Must go and see her exhibition.
WOW! Totally awesome, Wendy.
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I LOVE that painting!!! Natasha is so talented!!! XOXO
That is soo cool. You look very regal Wendy! What a wonderful thing to own. e xxx
I definitely covet that patio and the painting is fantastic! Quite an adventure!
Damn, I want to live in your world and travel to Mallorca for my very own Tudor portrait too! Every inch of that story is awesome…Also, I have to say that you look far far prettier than the actual Tudor queens. I mean, I sometimes look at these portraits of these women who supposedly brought down empires and changed history with their beauty, and yet, to me, they look a bit busted. You, however, look stunning.
Yeah, I always think the same thing about the queens…and wonder if it was due to portrait-painting techniques, real-life ugliness or a combination!
That is so amazing!
How neat is that!! And yes, Madonna, I said neat.
Don’t make Madonna gag!
Wow… that is fantastic! You look very regal Wendy.. and rightly so! Have been meaning to ask you – would you be willing to exchange blogroll links? I have you in mine already and keep forgetting to ask. Too much going on in this head right now! xx
Wahay, this is brilliant! I’d like to think that even in the 16th century you would still have been wearing red lipstick.
Fantastic painting – it is totally you. Where will you hang it? Please let me know about the London show, I’d love to go and maybe Natasha could paint me too? Beheaded, of course!
What an incredible painting! I would LOVE for someone to create a painting of me in that style. Gorgeous!
How cool is that? You look great in the portrait!
OMG, that’s fabulous!!! Perfection!
Wendy, how fabulous. The painting is beautiful, and yes, very clever as well.
Now, I want to get myself painted as Madame du Berry or Diane de Poitiers!
Mallorca, what a beautiful place for a studio….sigh…
That is a painting worth an arm and a leg…or a head.;-) LOVE it. Very cool.
These are all beautiful photos and paintings. That portrait of you look amazing. I just happened to watch the Other Boleyn Girl again yesterday.
Love the Marie Antoinette paintings too. I would love to have those in my living room!
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My jaw dropped when I saw the painting. Wendy, it’s PHENOMENAL! Natasha is a genius, and you are a co-genius for coming up with the idea.
I admire you for supporting artists… your policy is great and well-needed!
Champagne, diamonds and cash… I love what the artist is creating. Innovative folks always get my attention. They give me the desire to look for my spur.
Your posts inspire me. Thank you for that!
Great portrait! Real gold leaf was a nice touch too, makes it almost ‘iconic’.
I’d offer to sculpture your marble bust, but that sounds kind of weird.
I think the tudors are really intersting
Only Miss Wendy is more gorgeous than the portrait of Miss Wendy!
Awesome post, darling WB!
Love the side-by-side of you and that portrait ~ amazing!
xoxox,
CC
What a treasure!!!
Holy crap Wendy, that painting is phemomenal! You’re a natural as the queen; I’m certain you must have royal blood.
AB is one of my favorite Queens and you look amazing – how very lucky to have a portrait in her style x
Your Anne Boleyn portrait is amazing! I love it!
OMG!!!! wow how amazing!!!! Natasha is very talented, the work is beautiful and looks just like you, yet maintaining anne boleyn. How lovely.
you should consider posting an image of it somewhere random on your blog for a fun while
What can I say, that everyone else hasn’t already. (Except my word ver is mcQUEEN!)
I’d be creeped out if you had a Dorian Gray “deal.” !!!!!
This painting is brilliant!
I’ll go see her work when it’s in San Diego. 🙂
WOW! Wendy that is amazing! I love it so much and it DOES look like you!!!!!!!! I also really like Mr. B’s suggestion-where are you going to put it?
smiles,
gina
My dear, I think you may already have a painting stashed somewhere doing all of your aging for you. 🙂
wow, that is soooo amazing! the whole experience! and i lovelove the painting!!! lucky grrl 🙂
Oh I love that picture, I can imagine how happy it made you! As for Natasha’s other paintings, I also like Champagne, Diamonds and Cash!
So glad the head is still on. Did you find the ageing picture yet that will guarantee you eternal youth?
Wonderful post Wendy! The portrait is amazing! You’ll have to post a picture of it hung in your space. It would be great to see it in it’s new environment.
My anti-spam word summarizes everything I wanted to say: fabulous!! That and “cool, awesome, WOW”!!
Dorian Gray! HAHAHA!! 😀
Ok, but seriously that painting is fantastic & your photos are gorgeous. What a fabulous & memorable trip with an incredible souvenir.
So amazing! It reminds me slightly of a picture of you as a little girl (your face, not the outfit). Jealous.
P.S. My spam word was EASYGIRL. How did they know?